Combined sponge and chamois show-case



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

W. H. WIGHTMAN.

GOMBINEDSPONGE AND GHAMOIS SHOW CASE.

No. 498,042. Patented May 23, 1893.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Simet 2.

W. H; WIGHTMAN. COMBINED SPONGE AND GHAMOIS snow CASE.

.No. 498,042. Patented May 23, 1893.

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WILLIAM H. VVIGI-ITMAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

COMBINED SPONGEAND CHAMOlS SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,042, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed June 12, 1892. Serial No. 439,825. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itkn own that I, WILLIAM H. WIGHTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Sponge and Chamois Show-Case, of which the following is a specification.

Sponges and chamois skins, especially the former, are harsh and unpleasant to the touch when dry, and in order to prove the quality of sponges to customers it often becomes necessary to dampen them so as to restore them to their natural size and condition.

One of the objects of myinvention is to produce a show case in which the sponges and chamois skins will be kept in a moist and natural condition and free from dust.

A second object is to divide the case into a sufficient number of compartments to permit of the different qualities and sizes of sponges being kept separate while at the same time they are all accessible from the door of the case; and furthermore to so construct and arrange the internal partitions that they may be readily removed from the case to permit all parts thereof to be cleaned or repaired.

My invention therefore consists in a com bined sponge and chamois show case which is preferably rectangular in plan and provided with glass sides, and which is supplied with a moistening device and a set of movable partitions of novel constructions.

The preferred form of the invention will be found fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the partition screens and the moistening pan. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, the doors being closed and the door pockets in place. Fig. 3 is a front view of the case, the doors being open and the door pockets removed, and Fig. 4 is a cross section of the pan and absorbent pads on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the show case proper. The side walls a as shown are of glass set in the corner posts a. One of the sides consists of a door or doors a hinged to the corner posts and opening outward. The top and bottom of the case are of ordinary construction and formed either of wood or metal.

The moistening device consists of a pan B of sheet zinc or other suitable material filled with an absorbent substance and arranged to fit in the bottom of the case. I prefer to use for an absorbent pads 1) formed of flat pieces of sponge inclosed in a covering of coarse fabric. Upon the top of the pads rest sheets of woven wire 1') forming a platform to support the sponges within the case. The pan B forms a base to which the wire work partitions of the case are attached and upon which they are supported. The vertical partitions consist of a section of woven wire 0 bent at c and a near the middle of the case and extending from the bends to the rear corners, and two other sections D, D which extend from the bends c, c, to the front corners respectively. The edges of the sections D, D, rest in clips e which are attached to the section 0, and the bottom wires of the frames surrounding the sections pass through staples b attached to the corners of the pan B.

To further brace and strengthen the'vertical partitions, and to increase the number of compartments, I make use of two triangular shelves f, f, arranged as shown between the sections 0, D, D, and a large shelf or cap piece G, which rests upon the sections 0, D, D, and is temporarily connected to them at their outer corners by wire yokes g. The vertical partitions are shorter than the sides of the case so that the cap piece G is located at some distance below the case, thus leaving a compartment of considerable size above the said cap piece. The shelves f, f, are permanently hinged to the section 0 and may be folded against such section when the partitions are taken down. When in operative position they rest upon hooks h attached to the sections D, D.

Pockets I, K, are constructed with hooks which fit into staples i in the door frames. Bet-ween the compartmentinto which the door opens and the other compartments are holes M in the partitions through which sponges from any part of the case may be withdrawn.

The compartments below the cap piece or shelf G are used for various sizes and qualities of sponges and the compartment above is for chamois skins.

ICO

tions connected to thefipan and removable therewith, substantially as described.

2. In a show case for sponges, the combination with the case having glass sides, of the moistening pan,the Vertical wire-work partitions removably connected thereto, and the triangular shelves connected to and arranged to brace the partitions, substantially 'as (16* scribed. I

3. In a combined sponge and 'ch'amois show case, the combination with the case having glass sides, of the removable moistening pan arranged in the bottom of the case, the absorbent pads within the pan, the wire-work flooring above the pads, the vertical wire-work partitions, connected to the pan and removable therewith and the wire-Work shelf resting upon the partitions and arranged at a distance below the case top to provide an upper compartment, substantially as described.

4. In a show case for sponges and chamois skins the combination with the case having glass sides, and the moistening pan of the internal partitions consisting of the vertical sections 0, D, D, the cap plate resting on the vertical sections, and the shelves hinged to the section 0 and connected to the sections D, D, resting upon the pan all of said partitions being formed of wire-'work, detachably connected together, and independent of the outer walls of the case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. WVIGHTMAN.

Witnesses:

LEWIS ALLEN, J 'r., A. R. SHERMAN. 

